Chris Monk Ballooning
Frequently asked questions

Our main flying season is from April to October. Morning flights are available during the week and at weekends, weather permitting and subject to availability.

We fly early mornings around sunrise. This is when the air is at its most stable, so we can get the best of the calmer weather in the day. You’ll be advised of the meeting time when you’re booked onto your flight.

Our exclusive launch sites are near Wells Cathedral, Glastonbury Tor, Cheddar and the surrounding area. We will supply full meeting instructions prior to your flight. If you have a specific location in mind, just let us know, and we will come to you.

Our exclusive flights carry 2-3 people. If however you have a larger group, we can also arrange a flight on an individual basis.

The flight lasts for around one hour, depending on suitability of landing sites, but you should allow at least three to four hours for the whole ballooning experience. It incorporates a full safety briefing, the opportunity to assist with the lay out of the balloon if you wish, the airbourne adventure, packing away, followed by a celebratory glass of champagne (or soft drink) and pastries, and then returning to the launch site / meeting point.

The temperature in the air is similar to that on the ground. We recommend clothes suitable for a walk in the countryside: comfortable layers and sensible shoes, trainers or boots. A cap or other hat can also be worn for your comfort.

Yes! Please bring a camera - the views are spectacular! The balloon makes an excellent stable platform for photography. You are responsible for looking after your camera and personal possessions.

Hot air balloons travel with the wind and whilst we have an idea prior to launch, we cannot determine exactly where we will land, which adds to the excitement of the journey. The distance travelled depends on the wind speed. The pilot will look for somewhere suitable to land with good access for the retrieve crew, and with no animals or crop. The retrieve crew will track the balloon on the ground and aim to arrive shortly after landing. After the balloon is packed away we will transport you back to the launch site / meeting point.

Landings can be very gentle in light winds or, if the winds are a little faster, we may have a drag along the ground before coming to rest and this is perfectly normal. During landing you will be in the safe landing position within the basket as instructed by your pilot. Many people say the landing is their favourite part of the flight!

There is no upper age limit, and passengers must be able to climb in and out of the basket and stand for at least an hour. Children must be 7 years old and be 1.4m (4’6″) tall. A child under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Unfortunately we are unable to take you flying if you are pregnant.

We are committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are given the opportunity to fly and therefore we request that you inform us of any disabilities when booking so that we can do our best to meet the passenger’s needs. Unfortunately, for safety reasons, we are unable to fly anyone who is confined to a wheelchair.

Hot air balloons are very safe. They go through vigorous annual checks to ensure they meet the strict standards defined by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the British Ballooning and Airship Club (BBAC). The pilot and crew thoroughly check the balloon prior to every flight. We are licensed by the CAA to operate balloons in a commercial capacity, and our pilots hold UK CAA Commercial Pilot Licences and CAA Class 2 medicals. We take your safety extremely seriously.

We ask for a £50 per person deposit to secure your flying slot and will only ask for full payment when we know that the weather conditions will be favourable, around one or two days prior to the flight. We ask that the balance for is paid no later than 12 hours prior to your booked flight.Ballooning is very weather dependent. If the weather is poor and we can’t fly we will work with you to find another opportunity to fly, or return the full payment to you. If you decide not to turn up without giving reasonable notice, you will not receive a refund.

If we have to cancel your flight because of weather or other reasons outside our control, we will do our best to re-arrange your flight. If we are unable to do this we will give you a full refund within five working days of the flight date.

Chris Monk Ballooning carries a combined single limit insurance policy for passengers and third parties of at least £2 million. Passengers’ personal possessions are carried at the owner’s risk.

All our pilots have been trained to the highest possible standards and hold a UK CAA Commercial Pilot Licence and CAA Class 2 medicals. They will each have a high level of flying experience before they fly our balloons and also undertake regular flight tests in accordance with CAA requirements. Our company is licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority (UK.DBO.518) and gets regular company audits to make sure everything is as it should be.

Ballooning requires light winds, dry weather, good visibility, and firm ground conditions in order to conduct a safe and enjoyable flight. If pilots cancel a flight it is because they are putting your safety and enjoyment first.

Family and friends are welcome to watch but please do not allow them to drive on to a launch field. We would ask them not to follow the balloon, as our experienced ground crew will track the balloon and bring all the passengers back to the launch site. Please note also that we do not allow any smoking, vaping or e-cigarettes at the launch or landing fields.

You must not fly if you are suffering from any serious medical conditions, or have recently undergone surgery, unless you have a certificate of your fitness to fly from your doctor. We will not fly you if you are under the influence of drink/drugs.

Our pilots are very experienced and have in-depth weather forecasting tools available to them to help make the correct decision about whether it is safe to fly or not. We do not base our decision on what other balloonists are doing and our passengers’ safety is our number one priority.